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Have you ever been interested in breast augmentation surgery? Whether you’re thinking about going up a cup size, downgrading or even making your breasts look firm and shapely, this kind of cosmetic surgery is one of the most popular trends in Australia at the moment. Growing at a rate of 30 per cent year-after-year, it is time to debunk any myths about breast augmentation, and just face the facts if you’re interested in going under the knife.

The Cosmetic Institute is a world-class facility offering breast augmentation surgery, amongst other cosmetic procedures. With their flagship store located in Parramatta and second established just months ago in bustling Bondi Junction, they offer exceptional surgical outcomes, brilliant patient care and support at a fair price. Breast augmentation surgery at The Cosmetic Institute is available for $5,990.

HAVE YOUR SAY:

Here are some common misconceptions about breast augmentation surgery, as told by David Segal, co-founder and managing director of The Cosmetic Institute, and author of the book Skin – The Essential Australian Guide.

Breast implants are only for women who want to increase their cup size

A far cry from the assets of celebrities such as Brynne Edelstein or Pamela Anderson, in reality, many clients just want to go from an A to a B or a C cup. “The size of the implant is determined in consultation with the patient, taking into account their height, weight and frame, but for the most part, we don’t see women who are looking to go really big,” says David. Implants are not a ‘one size fits all’ type of procedure. They are chosen in proportion to body-type, and how to best flatter the rest of the patient.

Implants will make you lose the sensation in your breasts

Although patients will usually have a different reaction from the procedure, in most cases this is treated as a rare concept. While everyone will react differently after the implants are inserted, the loss of sensitivity isn’t usually a permanent side effect. “The vast majority of patients experience no permanent sensory changes after undergoing a breast augmentation,” David said.

You cannot breastfeed after having implants

One of the most common misconceptions about breast augmentation surgery is definitely in regards to difficulty breastfeeding in the future. The implant is usually inserted under the muscle, since this will not interfere with any flow from the milk ducts. If you do plan to have kids or breastfeed, don’t let this common misconception deter you from the idea of breastfeeding.

Breast augmentation requires a lot of attention and time off work

While everybody is different and has a varied amount of pain tolerance, breast augmentation isn’t treated like a surgery which requires a tremendous amount of down-time. Most patients will be back and on their feet within 5-7 days after the procedure has been completed. “Most of our patients are pleasantly surprised by the simplicity of the procedure and the time it takes to recover. The procedure itself takes just 45 minutes on average and does not require an overnight hospital stay. Patients are able to recuperate at home once discharged from recovery,” says David.

Having the procedure in Thailand or overseas will be cheaper and act like a mini-holiday

A large number of people choose to get their breast augmentation surgery in countries such as Thailand, Lebanon and Bali. These procedures are often advertised as cheap and are romanticised since they also look like a mini-holiday which takes over the recovery period. In reality, this is nearly impossible since patients need an adequate amount of care, rest and follow-up support which doesn’t exist in these types of scenarios. “In addition to not being able to swim, patients may be in pain and must keep movement to a minimum. Additionally, people are often travelling to very hot, humid climates, where the risk of infection is high, and most importantly, should something go wrong, a patient has no access to their surgeon once they have returned home,” David warns.

Silicone implants are not safe

Much has been said over the past few years in regards to the safety of silicone implants. Actually, these implants have gone through numerous tests and research which determine that they are extremely safe and reliable. “Silicone is actually the most biocompatible material known to man and silicone-filled implants are supported by extensive pre-clinical testing, US clinical studies and European rupture prevalence data,” David says. If you are worried about the safety of silicone implants, do your research and read-up as much as you can on the topic before deeming it unsafe.

Implants make it difficult to detect breast cancer

Actually, quite the opposite. Breast implants have often had a bad reputation in regards to blocking the detection of breast cancer. Instead, the implants push forward the breast tissue, which makes it so much easier to detect any incoming lumps or bumps which are of concern.